Expert: Chris Wagoner - 6/17/2010

Question
My name is brian I am 20yrs. old and confused about what i want to do it's between teaching/Counselor, most likey counselor, psychiatry, or my favorite one a police officer. The question is what personality types do police departments normally prefer, im not sure if i fit the description i need you to be 100% honest with me. Im not sure if you know about this but my personality is between a INFJ and INFP, so im shy, calm, laid back sensitive not agressive, im very passive etc. pretty much all of the counselor type so what is your opinion on this should i continue this police thing or drop it honestly?

Answer
Hi Brian,

Well..read this and then answer your question of yourself:

Have you really thought this through? Have you thought about what it really means to be a police officer anywhere? Do you really think you can do the job? Trust me, law enforcement as a career is not for everyone. And everyone that starts out in law enforcement does not make it to retirement. This job is hard on some people, some make it, some don’t, it’s just the nature of the job. As you have heard other places I am sure, but it is very appropriate for Law Enforcement, "with great power comes great responsibility". There is no greater responsibility then taking care of your fellow man, and protecting those that can not protect themselves. This is the only occupation that is given the ability to take a human life if needed on a split second decision and you alone are the one making it! That is the greatest responsibility you can have in this world! Guard it with care!

You will have to overcome many fears you may have. If you're afraid of dogs, cats, snakes, animals of any kind, (not a healthy respect for their abilities, but a fear that causes you to want to run away). You will probably at one time or another be chased or possibly attacked by a dog of some kind. You may have to catch a snake. You may have to climb something to a high place, you may have to work near a fire, you may have to dive into a body of water. Learn to swim (this is Florida by the way and every state has waterways and lakes).

Some people are afraid to touch other people. Not cops / police officers. You have to. You will have to be able to stomach smells that would make 99% of the public vomit. You can't be afraid of dead bodies or blood. You will see plenty of both at accident scenes and crime scenes, but you have to continue to do your job! So if you have an unreasonable fear of any of these things, get over them and get them under control. You must be able to function under any of these situations and continue to do your job. When the smell is coming from inside the 110 degree trailer in the middle of the summer and someone has not seen Mr. Jones for a week, and you have to go in and check on him, you must, you have to, you cannot say no, you will go in and check on him. Its your job!

Remember that you are starting what you are hoping to be a lifelong career. You need to commit the time and effort to it in that way, if you do you will do fine, if you don't you will be one of those that starts and never finishes.


Go here:http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/home and it will help you decide. Personally if your "shy, calm, laid back sensitive not aggressive, im very passive etc" I would not look at law enforcement.